Preview: Crystal Palace v Arsenal

28 December 2017

Roy Hodgson’s side return to Selhurst Park after picking up four points on the road and in the process set their own Premier League record of going eight games unbeaten.

After the Boxing Day fixtures the side still remain outside the bottom three ahead of tonight’s game against Arsenal with memories still fresh in supporters minds of the 3-0 victory recorded in this fixture by Palace in April earlier this year.

Arsenal Sitting In Sixth Place

Since their victory against Tottenham last month Arsene Wenger’s side have only lost one of their next six top flight games but come into this game having won just two on the road this season.

The Gunners currently sit in sixth and four points off fourth place as the push for the top places at the right end of the table will be as competitive as ever in the second half of the season.

Leading marksman for the north London side is Alexandre Lacazette with eight goals ahead of Alexis Sánchez with five to his name in the top flight this term.

View From The Opposition

Arsene Wenger on Palace’s recent form

"They were a bit unlucky at the start. They had many injuries. If you look at their team, they have quality players. Roy Hodgson has experience of the Premier League, so I am not surprised."

Team News

Crystal Palace: Hodgson has Christian Benteke back for selection following his one match suspension and Joel Ward looks likely to once again miss out with a groin injury.

Arsenal: Defender Nacho Monreal picked up a ankle injury in the draw with Liverpool and is doubtful for the game.

Forward Olivier Giroud and midfielder Aaron Ramsey are still missing with hamstring problems whilst Santi Cazorla has an ankle injury.

Matchday Officials

Michael Oliver has taken charge of 20 games this season, including Champions League matches and a World Cup qualifier. He has shown 81 yellow cards and dismissed five players in those matches.

The last Eagles game he took charge of was the recent 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion whilst it was back in November at Manchester City that he last was in the middle for an Arsenal match.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistants: Simon Bennett, Daniel Cook

Fourth official: Graham Scott

Matchday Stats

Palace are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W3, D3) and have scored two goals in each game.

Palace are on an eight-match unbeaten run (W3, D5) - their longest top-flight run since a 12-match stretch in October 1990.

The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in all three of their Premier League London derbies this season and can go four London derbies without conceding for the first time since February 1999.

Arsenal have only won two Premier League away games this season - their joint-fewest tally after nine away games of a campaign in the Premier League era

Arsenal haven't won any of their five Premier League London derbies away from the Emirates in 2017 (W0 D2 L3) and have failed to score in the last four of these.

Head To Head

Palace wins

Draws

Arsenal wins

League

3

9

22

FA Cup

0

1

2

League Cup

1

1

2

Total

4

11

26

Ticket Information

This match is now sold out.

Season ticket holders who cannot attend the match can use Twickets to re-sell their seat at face value to fellow season ticket holders and members.

Tickets offered for sale will be sold through the Twickets platform, where they can be purchased safely and securely.

Live Coverage

If you can’t make it to Selhurst Park for the game, there will be live commentary on Palace Player, updates on Twitter, with highlights available on Palace TV from midnight tonight.

Report: Crystal Palace 2-3 Arsenal

Palace’s long unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Arsenal, as Alexis Sanchez netted twice in the space of four minutes to hand Arsenal the victory despite a late rally by the Eagles.

Roy Hodgson’s team had found themselves behind at the break thanks to Shkodran Mustafi’s opener, but four minutes into the second half they drew level when Andros Townsend scored against the Gunners in SE25 for the second successive season and give Palace hope of continuing their best run of top-flight form in 27 years.

But Sanchez’s quick-fire brace just after the hour mark put the Gunners in control until James Tomkins headed in a late corner to set up a grandstand finish, but the north Londoners earned the derby day bragging rights and ensured that Arsene Wenger tasted victory in what was his record-equalling 810th Premier League appearance as a manager.

The home side began like a team who hadn’t tasted defeat in their previous eight games and enjoyed lengthy spells of possession in the Gunners’ half, and on 15 minutes they came a whisker away from taking the lead but unlike the corresponding fixture last season, Yohan Cabaye couldn’t quite find the net from long range as his low blast skidded wide.

That warning saw Arsenal crank up the pressure and they became the dominant side for the rest of the half. As they worked through their gears they created a few threatening moments in the final third including a Jack Wilshere blast from 25 yards that fell straight to Julian Speroni, but on 25 minutes they found a way through the Eagles defence.

A free-kick into the box was cleared out as far as Mesut Ozil who found Alexandre Lacazette inside the box. After seeing a cross blocked, the club record signing got the ball onto his left foot before firing goalwards from a tight angle, and after Speroni parried it away, it fell invitingly for Mustafi who produced a composed first-time finish to hand the lead to Wenger’s team.

It was very nearly 2-0 four minutes later when an excellent incisive pass by Sanchez allowed Ozil to prod goalwards but Speroni showed fine reactions to stick out a hand and deflect it away, and the chances continued to rack up as Lacazette rippled the side-netting after creating a shooting chance after many twists and turns, and then somehow the visitors squandered a three-on-two opportunity after Ozil broke through and rounded Speroni.

There was a brief glimmer for Palace amongst those opportunities when Wilfried Zaha flashed an effort wide of the mark after cutting inside off the left flank, but their fortunes were to change just four minutes after the restart.

Playing with some fire in his belly, Zaha burst into life on the left and after some textbook trickery saw him escape from Callum Chambers, he cut the ball back to the penalty spot where Townsend was waiting to lash the ball first-time past Petr Cech and score for the first time since registering in the 3-0 win against the Gunners last April.

That saw Hodgson’s team grow in confidence and not long after pulling level Jeffrey Schlupp blasted into the side-netting after latching onto a Zaha through-ball, but the good mood around Selhurst was punctured 12 minutes later as Arsenal netted twice in quick succession to put clear daylight between the sides.

Firstly, Chambers lofted a high ball into the box which once again dropped to Lacazette, and after he got it under control he received a shout from Sanchez to lay it off, and the Chilean rifled a powerful blast towards the near post which zipped through James Tomkins’ legs and despite Speroni getting a glove to it, it proved too venomous.

And four minutes later, the Palace keeper was beaten again by his fellow South American when Jack Wilshere received time and possession inside the centre circle and played a fine pass into the onrushing Sanchez’s feet, and a delicious first touch set him up perfectly to slide into the corner and virtually put the game to bed with 24 minutes to play.

Only another good stop by Speroni prevented Hector Bellerin from adding a fourth when once again another long ball over the top caused the home defence issues, but with 10 minutes Palace threw everything at their opponents.

The onslaught began when Zaha screwed a header wide when well-placed, and soon after Bakary Sako blazed horribly over before seeing another attempt deflect inches wide, but from the resulting corner, Tomkins headed in Townsend’s delivery to net his first goal for over a year with just over a minute of normal time remaining.

Despite the Eagles’ best efforts though, they couldn’t find another equaliser and the impressive lengthy unbeaten run finally came to an end.